The French Revolution, 1789-1804 Liberty, Authority and the Search for Stability

This book is designed to move students quickly to the exciting thematic subjects at the center of current debate on the Revolution and the Counter-Revolution. After a short narrative focusing on continuities and ruptures inside the Revolution, the creation of a new political culture is covered in chapters on institutions, political participation, and rhetoric. Nigel Aston deliberately takes a wide perspective and is concerned throughout with the reception of Revolutionary values in Europe, in the French colonies, and the United States.

Nigel Aston is Reader in History at the University of Leicester.

List of Maps * Preface * Timeline * Introduction * Part One: The Unfolding Of The Revolution, 1789-1802 * The End of the Monarchy, 1789-1792 * The Convention, 1792-1795 * An Attempt at Moderation: The Directory and the Consulate, 1795-1804 * Part Two: The Creation Of A New Political Culture * The Language and Signs of Revolution * The Transformation of Institutions * Changing Patterns of Political Participation * Part Three: The Revolution And Its Social Impact * The Militarisation of France (The Nation in Arms) * Violence, Vandalism, and Coercion * The Economy and Society * Part Four: The Revolution And The Wider World * The Impact on Europe * The French Diaspora and the Wider World * Conclusion * Glossary * Bibliography * Index